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Post subject: Fender Strat Puzzle
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 6:53 am
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Aspiring Musician
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I'm in negotiations to secure a Strat in a trade. The problem is that I'm sceptical about this Guitar's pedigree. He has it advertised as a 2013 Highway One.

Here is the ad:
http://www.adverts.ie/electric-guitars/ ... cs/7157077

The Highway Ones were discontinued and replaced with the American Specials in 2010, I know because I had a two tone sunburst one. It also came in Candy Apple red but in the pictures, while the guitar is red, you can see the woodgrain through the finish. You couldn't see the wood grain on the American Specials. Also, according to the serial number. it's US13 which would denote 2013 made in the US which leads me to think that the neck is from a 2013 American Special but the body is something else entirely.
I can live with the pickups and electronics being swapped out but my biggest concern is whether the body is authentic or not.

I'm 50/50 on whether I'm going to pull the trigger or not and I'm supposed to meet the guy on Sunday.

Any feedback is greatly appreciated.

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Post subject: Re: Fender Strat Puzzle
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 7:08 am
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Also...

I'm thinking it's a partscaster and I'm not interested if it is. I have a two hour drive to meet this guy on Sunday and I don't want to be making that journey with doubt in my mind about it's originality. I've put some questions to the seller and I'll see what he comes back with.

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2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III


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Post subject: Re: Fender Strat Puzzle
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 7:54 am
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I believe you're correct - it's a parts guitar with the neck from a 2013 American Special. It could well be a Highway 1 body - they never show the full back of the body so you can't see if the middle screws on the trem cover are offset or if they are even across. It could be a version 1 Highway 1 body; it seems like Fender used that trans red on them. I just don't remember if the trans red was continued with the version 2 body. Or it could be something else entirely. And who knows what kind of pickups are in it.

The neck plate is a bit wonky - Highway 1s/American Specials use plain neck plates; this one has the "Fender Corona California" without the micro-tilt hole as used on American Standard basses, plus it has that plastic gasket that Fender only used from the early 1970s until 1982 on USA models.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Strat Puzzle
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 8:04 am
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Yes the neck plate set off the alrms bells as well. Looks like an eBay after market neck plate.

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2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III


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Post subject: Re: Fender Strat Puzzle
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 8:57 am
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This is what I was going to trade for it:

1994 Mij Fender Jazzmaster For Sale Or Trade For Sale in Mornington, Meath from irishstratfan

I don't think it's a fair trade it it's a partscaster.

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2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III


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Post subject: Re: Fender Strat Puzzle
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 10:42 am
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The one thing the World is not short of is used Fender Stratocasters for sale or trade.

For me, if there are any Red Flags about a Strat I'm looking to B/T, I just walk away.

The risk of getting burned is too great, and the right Strat is sure to be just around the corner.

cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Fender Strat Puzzle
Posted: Thu Jan 22, 2015 2:29 pm
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Lightnin MN wrote:
The one thing the World is not short of is used Fender Stratocasters for sale or trade.

For me, if there are any Red Flags about a Strat I'm looking to B/T, I just walk away.

The risk of getting burned is too great, and the right Strat is sure to be just around the corner.

cheers!


+1K...Very sound advice Lightning!

T2

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Post subject: Re: Fender Strat Puzzle
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 4:50 am
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So here's an update. I didn't go for that Strat but I did go for another one which is a partscaster and the former owner put that out there from the start.

It's got a 2002 American series body with an undetermined body in an amazing metallic gold. When I got it home I took the neck off and took these pictures.

Here's the neck pocket which is untidy to say the least.
Image

And here's the neck.
Image

And here's the complete Guitar after I strung it with new strings and gave it a quick setup. The pickguard, electronics and bridge are from the same Guitar that the neck belonged to but I cannot determine the body which is probably an after market body as it doesn't have the micro-tilt assembly. It has a two point bridge so it's not a MIM or American Special/Highway 1 body but the colour looks so good I don't care. I think it could be something like shoreline gold but I'm not sure. It sounds better than my other Strat that has Custom Shop Fat 50s on it. This one has the vintage noiseless pickups on it. It's also got more output and sounds amazing.

Image

I got this as a backup to my Strat but this may become my main Guitar now.

Image

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2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III


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Post subject: Re: Fender Strat Puzzle
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 9:24 am
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Nice - but you better clip those string ends before you poke your eye out lol

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Post subject: Re: Fender Strat Puzzle
Posted: Mon Jan 26, 2015 9:48 am
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Yep. :)

I was tuning it up the first time after the string change.

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2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster
2013 Fender Pure Vintage 65 Stratocaster
2003 Gibson ES-355
2015 Gibson Les Paul Traditional
2002 Gretsch Duo Jet
1980 Rickenbacker 360/12 Fireglo
2014 Martin 000X1AE
2014 Fender Blues Junior III


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